title: Stereotactic radiosurgery of intracranial cavernous malformations.
abstract: Despite increasing worldwide experience, the role of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) in the management of cerebral cavernous malformations (CMs) remains controversial. Microsurgical excision of easily accessible CMs is typically safe; therefore, removal remains the gold standard for most of the symptomatic hemispheric lesions. However, there is now sufficient evidence supporting the use of SRS for the difficult cases. Waiting for the cumulative morbidity of the natural history to justify intervention does not serve the patient's interest, therefore, we argue for early radiosurgical intervention. Carefully designed randomized controlled trials might resolve controversies concerning the role of SRS in treating cerebral CMs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuro-Oncology, National Institute of Neurosciences, Amerikai út 57, Budapest 1145, Hungary.
authors.forename: Gábor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nagy
authors.forename: Andras A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Kemeny
mesh_terms: D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D020786:Hemangioma, Cavernous, Central Nervous System / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D020300:Intracranial Hemorrhages / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D016634:Radiosurgery / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Basal ganglia; Brainstem; Cavernous malformation; Epilepsy; Stereotactic radiosurgery; Thalamus